FA Premiership/Sheffield Utd 2 Fulham 0: The relief was palpable at the final whistle as Sheffield United sliced themselves free of the scrap at the foot of the Premiership. A fine victory, utterly convincing and born of aggression and eager running against dithering opponents, has opened up a seven-point gap on the bottom three.
Leads have been surrendered late on this season at this ground, but United were never likely to succumb against a Fulham side this hapless. Their plethora of defensive errors offered the hosts with opportunities that were accepted gratefully before the interval. Thereafter, even when Neil Warnock's men retreated deep into their own half, Fulham offered nothing of note.
There was a refreshing energy to Warnock's side, a rugged and mobile strike-force benefiting from the pace and incision of Colin Kazim-Richards and Stephen Quinn - the latter celebrating an international call-up from Steve Staunton.
Fulham were warned early on, with Kazim-Richards' centre flicked over an advancing Antti Niemi by Rob Hulse. The Finn was left bloodied by Zat Knight's attempted challenge. This was the goalkeeper's first appearance since suffering a serious head injury against Watford on New Year's Day.
In the wave of home attacks which followed, Fulham's defending degenerated into farce. United struck twice in five minutes midway through the first half, and the goals came among a flurry of untaken opportunities as Warnock's side pummeled Fulham into submission.
Vincenzo Montella, stopped by a pair of home players just outside the area, conceded possession for the first with Nick Montgomery collecting from Jon Stead and squaring his pass into the area. The striker gathered, burst beyond Knight's half-hearted challenge and hammered beyond the helpless Niemi.
Fulham were still flustered when Kazim-Richards' cross was headed awkwardly away by Pearce and returned to the far post by Michael Tonge. Liam Rosenior could only stretch and flick the ball on, Quinn skipping behind the full-back to square for Tonge to bundle home.
Quinn, Phil Jagielka and Hulse should have added to the advantage by the interval, the visitors wheezing at the home side's prolonged assault.
Knight and Pearce were still rattled from the re-start, Chris Lucketti and Hulse passing up presentable opportunities to extend the hosts' lead.
In riposte, Fulham merely hinted at reward. The visiting supporters were left shivering at the inadequacy of it all.
SHEFFIELD UTD: Kenny, Geary, Jagielka, Lucketti, Armstrong, Kazim-Richards, Tonge, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Hulse, Stead. Subs not used: Bromby, Webber, Alan Quinn, Fathi, Nade. Booked: Lucketti.
FULHAM: Niemi, Rosenior, Knight, Pearce, Queudrue, Davies, Volz (Dempsey 82), Brown, Radzinski (Routledge 74), Montella (Helguson 33), McBride. Subs not used: Lastuvka, Omozusi. Booked: Pearce.
Referee: L Mason (Lancashire).
